“Mistress Courthope! Wha cares for her? A mim, cantin’ auld body! Gie _me_ the trootie, Ma’colm. Ye’re a bonny laad, an it s’ be the better for ye.” “Deed I cudna du ’t, Mistress Catanach--though I’m sorry to disobleege ye. It’s bespoken, ye see. But there’s a fine haddie, an’ a bonny sma’ coddie, an’ a goukmey (_gray gurnard_).” “Gae ’wa’ wi’ yer haddies, an’ yer goukmeys! Ye sanna gowk _me_ wi’ them.” “Weel, I wadna wonner,” said Malcolm, “gien Mrs Courthope wad like the haddie tu, an’ maybe the lave o’ them as weel. Hers is a muckle faimily to haud eatin’. I’ll jist gang to the Hoose first afore I mak ony mair offers frae my creel.” “Ye’ll lea’ the troot wi’ _me_,” said Mrs Catanach imperiously. “Na; I canna du that. Ye maun see yersel’ ’at I canna.” The woman’s face grew dark with anger. “It s’ be the _waur_ for ye,” she cried. “I’m no gauin’ to be fleyt (_frightened_) at ye. Ye’re no sic a witch as that comes till, though ye _div_ ken a body’s fit upo’ the flags! My blin’ luckie-deddy can du mair nor that!” said Malcolm, irritated by her persistency, threats and evil looks. “Daur ye _me_?” she returned, her pasty cheeks now red as fire, and her wicked eyes flashing as she shook her clenched fist at him. “What for no?” he answered coolly, turning his head back over his shoulder, for he was already on his way to the gate. “Ye s’ ken that, ye misbegotten funlin’!” shrieked the woman, and waddled hastily into the house. “What ails her?” said Malcolm to himself. “She micht ha’ seen ’at I bude to gie Mrs Courthope the first offer.” By a winding carriage-drive, through trees whose growth was stunted by the sea-winds, which had cut off their tops as with a keen razor, Malcolm made a slow descent, yet was soon shadowed by timber of a more prosperous growth, rising as from a lake of the loveliest green, spangled with starry daisies. The air was full of sweet odours uplifted with the ascending dew, and trembled with a hundred songs at once, for here was a very paradise for birds. At length he came in sight of a long low wing of the house, and went to the door that led to the kitchen. There a maid informed him that Mrs Courthope was in the hall, and he had better take his basket there, for she wanted to see him. He obeyed, and sought the main entrance.